Neath Port Talbot

Neath Port Talbot's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in health, relationships and religion.

The population reached nearly 140,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Neath Port Talbot increased by 4.0%, from just over 134,000 to 140,000.

The addition of just over 5,300 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of Wales (up 5.5% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Neath Port Talbot was home to, on average, 2.3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across Wales

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Wales, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Neath Port Talbot

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Neath Port Talbot increased by two years, from 40 to 42 years.

This industrial area had a slightly higher average age than Torfaen (one of the most statistically similar areas to Neath Port Talbot based on ONS area classifications) (41 years of age) and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across Wales (41 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 3,400 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 2,000.

About 12% of people in Neath Port Talbot are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in proportion of Welsh speakers

The proportion of Welsh speakers in Neath Port Talbot fell from 18% to 15% in the 10 years leading up to Census 2011.

There are 2,484 fewer people living here who spoke Welsh compared with 2001, while the number of people who did not spoke Welsh increased by 7,457.

In Bridgend (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Neath Port Talbot), 9.7% of people over the age of three could speak some Welsh, down from 11% at the 2001 census. Across Wales, the proportion fell from 21% to 19%.

Monmouthshire was one of the few areas that saw an increase in the proportion of Welsh speakers (from 9.0% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2011), while Carmarthenshire saw the largest fall (from 50% to 44%).

The proportion of people who could speak Welsh was lower than across Wales

Percentage of people aged three and over that said they could speak Welsh across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Disability in Neath Port Talbot

Neath Port Talbot saw Wales' second-largest rise in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just over 1 in 14 (7.1%) in Neath Port Talbot reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 6.2% in 2001. The percentage who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.9% to 7.4%.

Wales' largest increase in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability occurred in Denbighshire (from 4.4% to 5.5%).

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

Neath Port Talbot saw Wales' second-largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

In 2011, just under 1 in 20 (4.8%) in Neath Port Talbot reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 4.2% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.0% to 2.3%.

Wales' largest increase in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care occurred in Denbighshire (from 3.0% to 3.6%).

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Neath Port Talbot remained close to 4.8%

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

Neath Port Talbot saw Wales' third-largest fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across Wales saw a fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad, as the regional average fell from 12% to 7.6%.

In 2011, just over 1 in 10 (10%) in Neath Port Talbot said their health was bad or very bad, compared with 16% in 2001. The percentage that perceived their health as good or very good increased from 60% to 73%.

Wales' largest decrease in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad occurred in Merthyr Tydfil (from 18% to 11%) followed by Rhondda Cynon Taf (from 16% to 9.6%).

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Neath Port Talbot decreased by 5.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Neath Port Talbot, Bridgend and Wales said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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